Pop Quiz

Posted by ESC on September 29, 2003

In Reply to: Pop Quiz posted by Mark on September 28, 2003

: Can anyone tell me where I can find the origin of the "pop quiz"?

So far, I haven't found anything in my references including a youth slang book. There was an entry for "popping" in an old college slang book. I am wondering if there's a connection.

Popping - "At William and Mary College, getting the advantage over another in argument is popping him." From "A Collection of College Words and Customs," Cambridge, published by John Bartlett. A handwritten notation in the book says "by B.H. Hall."

Merriam-Webster online at www.merriam-webster.com/ says:
Main Entry: pop quiz
Function: noun
Date: circa 1960
an unscheduled or unannounced quiz